With the rise in popularity of peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo, PayPal, Cash App and more, many shoppers wonder if they can use these convenient digital wallets to pay at self-checkout in stores like Walmart. Venmo in particular has become a popular way for friends to quickly split bills or pay each other back. So can you use the PayPal-owned app to checkout at Walmart self-service registers? Below we’ll go over everything you need to know.
The short answer
No, Venmo cannot be used directly at self-checkout registers in Walmart stores currently. Venmo is a peer-to-peer money transfer app, not a physical credit/debit card payment method accepted by Walmart. However, you can use Venmo to send money to someone else who can then pay on your behalf at a Walmart self-checkout using their own payment card.
How Venmo self-checkout payments work
Venmo is a digital wallet app owned by PayPal that allows sending and receiving money between users within the United States. It does not issue any physical cards. Walmart accepts traditional card payment methods like Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover at its self-checkout kiosks. It does not directly take Venmo as payment. However, there is a workaround where you can use Venmo indirectly at Walmart self-checkout in the following way:
- Send money to a friend through the Venmo app
- Have that friend pay for your items at Walmart self-checkout using their debit/credit card connected to their Venmo account
So you can use Venmo to pay someone digitally who can then complete the purchase on your behalf at a Walmart self-service register. But the app itself cannot be scanned or tapped to pay since no physical Venmo card exists. The payment must come from that person’s bank-issued card, which is funded by your Venmo transfer.
Can you use Venmo debit cards?
In addition to its peer-to-peer payments, Venmo also offers optional Venmo-branded debit cards that work like regular bank cards. However, Walmart does not accept Venmo’s debit card specifically. Venmo debit cards run on the Mastercard payment network. So they work anywhere that takes Mastercard – and Walmart does accept Mastercard. But there is nothing special about Venmo’s card that would allow it to work differently than any other Mastercard at Walmart. The Venmo debit card pulls funds from your Venmo account balance like a bank debit card pulls from a checking account.
Venmo debit card benefits
- Can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, including Walmart self-checkout
- Tap to pay functionality
- Access to ATMs for cash withdrawals
- No fees for in-network ATM withdrawals
- Instant access to Venmo account balance funds
- Customizable card designs and colors
So in summary, while Venmo’s peer-to-peer functionality does not integrate directly with Walmart self-checkout, you can obtain a Venmo debit Mastercard to easily spend your Venmo funds at Walmart or anywhere else.
Why can’t you use Venmo’s app to pay at Walmart?
There are a few key reasons why Venmo’s main app cannot be used directly for in-person payments at merchants like Walmart:
- No NFC technology – Venmo does not have tap-to-pay NFC technology built into its app that would allow scanning or tapping your phone at checkout terminals.
- No merchant integration – Venmo currently does not have any direct point-of-sale integrations with major merchants like Walmart to accept its payments in-store.
- Peer-to-peer focus – Venmo’s core functionality is centered around personal transfers between users, not retail payments at large chains.
- Regulatory requirements – Accepting direct payments from apps like Venmo in-store introduces more regulatory requirements that complicate integration.
Venmo was designed for convenient transfers between friends and family. Adapting it into an all-purpose digital wallet accepted everywhere is not the main priority. However, PayPal owns Venmo and does have more extensive point-of-sale and merchant integrations through its PayPal apps. But those capabilities have not yet been folded fully into Venmo.
Future possibilities for in-store Venmo payments
While direct acceptance of Venmo’s main app is not possible currently, there are some possibilities that may expand its in-person usage in the future:
QR code payments
Venmo has pilot tested certain QR code payment capabilities in some small shops and markets. Scanning a QR code linked to the merchant allows users to pay directly from Venmo similar to services like PayPal’s QR codes. Expanding QR code payment acceptance could potentially allow Venmo to work at some self-checkout registers by scanning a QR code on the payment terminal screen.
NFC payments
Venmo or PayPal could potentially launch enhanced tap-to-pay features leveraging NFC technology already present in most modern smartphones. This would allow seamless phone tapping to pay, similar to Apple Pay or Google Pay.
Merchant integrations
Direct point-of-sale integration with major merchants like Walmart to accept Venmo payments could provide a frictionless experience versus using QR codes or NFC workarounds.
More payment card options
Expanding Venmo’s payment cards beyond Mastercard debit could offer more options to spend Venmo funds in-store. Possibilities include Venmo credit cards, Visa debit cards or physical prepaid cards.
Walmart does not accept Apple Pay or Google Pay yet at its stores either, so merchant adoption remains a key obstacle for newer forms of digital payments. But with PayPal’s large merchant network and Venmo’s continued growth, future in-store payment capabilities seem likely as the technology develops.
Pros of paying with Venmo at Walmart self-checkout
While not possible today, being able to directly use Venmo to purchase items at Walmart self-checkout would offer a few potential benefits:
- Convenience – For frequent Venmo users, paying directly from the app could be quicker than loading money to a bank card.
- Split purchases – You could easily use Venmo to split a Walmart purchase with a friend right from your phones.
- Rewards – Venmo offers reward points that could earn you cash back on Walmart purchases.
- Accessibility – People without physical cards could still pay with just their Venmo app.
- Budgeting – Keeping funds in Venmo can help maintain a spending budget separate from bank accounts.
As digital wallets grow in popularity for convenience and budgeting control, more shoppers will likely want to use Venmo and other apps for in-store payments. Large merchants integrating with these apps directly could make the self-checkout experience more seamless.
Cons of using Venmo at self-checkout
On the other hand, there are also some potential drawbacks or risks to directly using Venmo for self-checkout purchases if it were possible:
- New fees – Merchants may charge small transaction fees for Venmo payments which don’t exist with debit/credit cards.
- Usability issues – Scanning QR codes on a tiny screen or accurately tapping phones could get cumbersome.
- Tech problems – App crashes or payment processing failures could slow down the checkout experience.
- Fraud risk – More digital payment options increases potential for malicious actors.
- Privacy concerns – Using apps could share more personal purchase data versus standard payments.
There are certainly valid security, technical and cost considerations when introducing new digital payment types at major retailers. A key question is whether the added convenience outweighs any new frictions the technology could also introduce to the checkout process.
Checkout payment considerations
When evaluating different payment methods at retail self-checkout registers like Walmart, here are some general factors to consider:
Speed & convenience
- Is the payment method easy and quick to use?
- Does it require any extra steps versus swiping a card?
- Can you checkout faster versus waiting in a cashier line?
Transaction fees
- Does the payment method incur any extra fees per transaction?
- Do you need to pay an annual fee for the payment card/service?
- Does the convenience outweigh any extra costs?
Security
- Does the payment method offer strong protections against fraud, theft or data breaches?
- Does it provide liability protection if unauthorized charges occur?
- Are you comfortable with the security policies and encryption?
Privacy
- Are you OK with the payment provider collecting data on your purchases?
- Does it allow you to limit sharing of transaction details?
- Can you easily dispute charges or clear your history?
Rewards & benefits
- Can you earn points, airline miles or cash back from using the payment method?
- Does it offer any other perks like free subscriptions or discounts?
- Do the rewards offset costs like annual fees?
Understanding both the advantages and potential drawbacks of any payment technology can help choose what fits your preferences and situation best.
Tips for paying digitally at self-checkout
When using mobile payment apps and digital wallets for self-service checkout, consider these tips:
- Make sure your phone battery is charged enough to complete the transaction.
- Load digital payment cards/apps before starting checkout to save time.
- Hold your phone very close to the payment terminal when tapping to pay.
- Check that you are using the correct app if you have multiple payment options.
- Know your checkout app’s PIN or passcode to finalize payments.
- Keep payment apps up-to-date for better security and performance.
- Be aware that some self-checkout machines may not accept tap-to-pay methods.
- Have a backup physical payment card in case of mobile issues.
- Make sure you have enough funds in your account before purchasing.
- Review your electronic receipts carefully to confirm charged amounts.
With a few precautions, digital payment options can allow quick and seamless self-checkout. Choosing apps from reputable providers that suit your preferences best can offer great convenience.
Conclusion
Venmo is growing as a popular digital payments app, but currently lacks any direct integration with Walmart self-checkout terminals. While you cannot simply scan your Venmo app to checkout at Walmart, you do have a couple indirect options to use Venmo funds:
- Send money to a friend through Venmo, then have them pay on your behalf with their own card at checkout.
- Apply for Venmo’s debit Mastercard to spend account balances anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
Paying directly via Venmo for in-store purchases may expand in the future through solutions like QR codes or NFC mobile tapping. But widespread merchant adoption remains a barrier. Balancing the convenience benefits against potential fees and risks is key for any new digital payment tech. With mobile wallets gaining popularity, more self-checkout innovations could arise. But for now at Walmart, tried-and-true physical cards still reign supreme.
